<h2>Name</h2>
<p>
The Surah takes its name from the word <em>al-kafirun</em> occurring in the
first verse.
</p>
<h2>Period of Revelation</h2>
<p>
Hadrat Abdullah bin Mas'ud, Hadrat Hasan Basri and Ikrimah, say that
this Surah, is Makki, while Hadrat Abdullah bin Zubair says that it is
Madani. Two different views have been reported from Hadrat Abdullah
bin Abbas and Qatadah, first that it is Makki, and second that it is
Madani. However, according to the majority of commentators, it is a
Makki Surah, and its subject- matter itself points to its being a Makki
revelation.
</p>
<h2>Historical Background</h2>
<p>
There was a time in Makkah when although a storm of opposition had
arisen in the pagan society of Quraish against the message of Islam
preached by the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace), yet the
Quraish chiefs hall not yet lost hope that they would reach some sort
of a compromise with him. Therefore, from time to time they would
visit him with different proposals of compromise so that he accepted
one of them and the dispute between them was brought to an end. In
this connection, different traditions have been related in the <em>Hadith</em>.
</p>
<p>
According to Hadrat Abdullah bin Abbas, the Quraish proposed to the
Holy Prophet; "We shall give you so much of wealth that you will
become the richest man of Makkah; we shall give you whichever woman
you like in marriage; we are prepared to follow and obey you as our
leader, only on the condition that you will not speak ill of our gods.
If you do not agree to this, we present another proposal which is to
your as well as to our advantage."When the Holy Prophet asked what it
was, they said that if he would worship their gods, Lat and Uzza, for
a year, they would worship his God for the same space of time. The
Holy Prophet said: "Wait awhile; let me see what my Lord commands in
this regard."Thereupon the revelation came down: <em>Qul ya-ayyuhal-
kafirun...</em> and: <em>Qul afa-ghair Allahi...</em> (Az-Zumar: 64): "Say to them:
ignorant people do you bid me to worship others than Allah?" (Ibn
Jarir, Ibn Abi Hatim, Tabarani). According to another tradition from
Ibn Abbas, the Quraish said to the Holy Prophet: "O Muhammad, if you
kiss our gods, the idols, we shall worship your God."Thereupon, this
Surah was sent down. (Abd bin Humaid). 
</p>
<p>
Said bin Mina (the freed slave
of Abul Bakhtari) has related that Walid bin Mughirah, As bin Wail,
Aswad bin al-Muttalib and Umayyah bin Khalaf met the Holy Prophet
(upon whom be peace) and said to him:"O Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's
peace and blessings), let us agree that we would worship your God and
you would worship our gods, and we would make you a partner in all our
works. If what you have brought was better than what we possess, we
would be partners in it with You, and have our share in it, and if
what we possess is better than what you have brought, you would be
partner in it with us and have your share of it."At this Allah sent
down: <em>Qul ya-ayyuhal-kafirun</em> (Ibn Jarir, Ibn Abi Hatim, Ibn Hisham
also has related this incident in the <em>Sirah</em>). 
</p>
<p>
Wahb bin Munabbih has
related that the people of Quraish said to Allah's' Messenger: "If you
like we would enter your faith for a year and you would enter our
faith for a year."(Abd bin Humaid, Ibn Abi Hatim). 
</p>
<p>
These traditions
show that the Quraish had proposed such things to the Holy Prophet not
once, in one sitting, but at different times and on different
occasions; and there was need that they should be given a definite,
decisive reply so that their hope that he would come to terms with
them on the principle of "give and take" was frustrated for ever.
</p>
<h2>Theme and Subject Matter</h2>
<p>
If the Surah is read with this background in mind, one finds that it
was not revealed to preach religious tolerance as some people of today
seem to think, but it was revealed in order to exonerate the Muslims
from the disbelievers religion, their rites of worship, and their gods,
and to express their total disgust and unconcern with them and to tell
them that Islam and kufr (unbelief) had nothing in common and there
was no possibility of their being combined and mixed into one entity.
Although it was addressed in the beginning to the disbelieving
Quraish in response to their proposals of compromise, yet it is not
confined to them only, but having made it a part of the Quran, Allah
gave the Muslims the eternal teaching that they should exonerate
themselves by word and deed from the creed of kufr wherever and in
whatever form it be, and should declare without any reservation that
they cannot make any compromise with the disbelievers in the matter of
Faith. That is why this Surah continued to be recited when the people
to whom it was addressed as a rejoinder, had died and been forgotten,
and those Muslims also continued to recite it who were disbelievers at
the time it was revealed, and the Muslims still recite it centuries
after they have passed away, for expression of disgust with and
dissociation from <em>kufr</em> and its rites is a perpetual demand of Faith.
</p>
<p>
As for the esteem in which the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) held
this Surah, it can be judged from the following few <em>ahadith</em>: 
</p>
<p>
Hadrat
Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) has related that on
many an occasion he heard the Holy Prophet recite Surahs <em>Qul Ya-
ayyuhal- kafirun</em> and <em>Qul Huwu-Allahu ahad</em> in the two rakahs before the
Fajr obligatory Prayer and in the two rakahs after the Maghrib
obligatory Prayer. Several traditions on this subject with a little
variation in wording have been related by Imam Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Nasai,
Ibn Majah, Ibn Hibban, Ibn Marduyah from Ibn Umar. 
</p>
<p>
Hadrat Khabbab
says: "The Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) said to me: when you lie
down in bed to sleep, recite <em>Qul ya-ayyuhal kafirun</em>, and this was the
Holy Prophet's own practice also; when he lay down to sleep, he
recited this Surah." (Bazzar, Tabarani, Ibn Marduyah). 
</p>
<p>
According to Ibn
Abbas, the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) said to the people:
"Should I tell you the word which will protect you from polytheism?It
is that you should recite <em>Qul ya-ayyuhal kafirun</em> when you go to
bed."(Abu Ya'la, Tabarani). 
</p>
<p>
Hadrat Anas says that the Holy Prophet
said to Hadrat Mu'adh bin Jabal; "Recite <em>Qul ya-ayyuhal-kafirun</em> at the
time you go to bed, for this is immunity from polytheism." (Baihaqi in
<em>Ash-Shu'ab</em>). 
</p>
<p>
Both Fardah bin Naufal and Abdur Rahman bin Naufal have
stated that their father, Naufal bin Muawiyah al-Ashjai, said to the
Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace):"Teach me something which I may
recite at the time I go to bed."The Holy Prophet replied: "Recite <em>Qul
ya-ayyuhal kafirun</em> to the end and then sleep, for this is immunity
from polytheism." (Musnad Ahmad, Aba Da'ud, Tirmidhi, Nasai, Ibn Abi
Shaibah, Hakim, Ibn Marduyah, Baihaqi in <em>Ash-Shuab</em>). A similar request
was made by Hadrat Jabalah bin Harithah, brother of Hadrat Said bin
Harithah, to the Holy Prophet and to him also he gave the same reply.
(Musnad Ahmad, Tabarani).
</p>

